Warming up a Blues Jnr?

[Ron Garson]

I have a NOS Tweed Blues Jnr, and it is a decent enough amp except that I'm not overly impressed by the tone range. No matter what settings I use, there just doesn't seem to be enough bottom end there, and it sounds rather brighter than I like. Probably good for cutting through a mix, but I don't need that, just a warmer bottom (if you know what I mean)

Is there any way to achieve this? Speaker change, cap change, tube change...or something else? Or is it just a characteristic of the Blues Jnr that you have to live with?

[Big_Bend]

There are many many mods you can do to a blues jr. Google "BillM Blues Jr" and you'll go to the right place.

The possibilities are endless. Have fun!

[waparker4]

Two things that spring to mind are a speaker change,

http://billmaudio.com/wp/?page_id=295

and having the amp properly biased.

[gtrguru]

I chose the standard version III instead of the NOS because it had more bottom. I think the NOS would sound great with an Ibanez bottom booster.

[ASC67]

Cannabis Rex !!!

[sacizob]

What happens when you turn the treble down and the bass up?

[Ron Garson]

Originally Posted by sacizob

What happens when you turn the treble down and the bass up?

I'm already doing that, but there's not as much tonal variation as I'd like there to be.

[Billm]

The mods I developed are specifically designed to extend the tonal range downwards and make it rounder and smoother, with more separation between the mids and bass controls. They're far more effective than a speaker swap or a pedal. It balances out the natural brightness of the Blues Junior but retains the clarity.

[alnicopu]

Originally Posted by Billm

The mods I developed are specifically designed to extend the tonal range downwards and make it rounder and smoother, with more separation between the mids and bass controls. They're far more effective than a speaker swap or a pedal. It balances out the natural brightness of the Blues Junior but retains the clarity.

TDPRI needs to start a sub-thread within Amp Central Station that is entitled, "Billm, Blues Junior". That way we could all cut out the middle man and get down to the brass tacs.

They could do something similar when it comes to tweed/early 60's Champs with Muchxs. Although, I don't know what the title would be, because, never meeting the guy, his posts and emails kind of remind me of a cross between my father and Keith Richards. That was meant as a compliment, by the way.

[donh]

Originally Posted by Ron Garson

Is there any way to achieve this?

Let amp get dusty
Pick up the dust
Remove amp, drive Dr Z Maz 18 under said dust
Drop dust
Profit !!!!!!!!!!!!

[Steve G]

Ron, Id say basic Billm mods would be useful for you, if you have someone who doesnt charge too much to carry out such work.

[Axis29]

Ron, I just picked up a Blues Jr NOS. I would agree that the tone knobs don't do as much as I'd like as well. I'm not so sure about needing more bass myself... but that's my preference I guess.

Last night I tried my amp with a buddy's C Rex speaker and I didn't find it that different than the Jensen that came stock in my amp.... Although, both speakers are brand new and haven't been broken in yet. BillM swears by the C Rex and he knows a heck of a lot more than I do about the Blues Jr. but if you could get a chance to test one first, I'd see if I could give it a try.

The tone stack mods BillM has developed have my curiosity piqued for sure!

I think Alnicopu may be right... Just do a sub forum under the Amp Central Station called BillM Mods to the Blues Jr! LOL

[uriah1]

I wonder how much cabinet material does to the sonic quality.?
I see a lot of Blues jr cabinets out there...

[Billm]

In my experience, cab material doesn't make much difference. I have a birch ply and a solid pine cab (same dimensions) and they sound pretty much the same. The pine cab resonates more and the sound is slightly less focused. The stock MDF cab is the heaviest and the speaker projects a little better in that cab, probably because it doesn't resonate and no energy is lost moving the cabinet walls.

Regarding the Jensen reissue, I think there are clear differences between the Jensen and the C. Rex. I use a homemade A/B/Y speaker switch, and many of my customers have been through the drill. I hear smoother, more extended bottom end in the C. Rex and brighter, more jangly highs in the Jensen.

[jazztele]

Well, what are you plugging in to it?

[uriah1]

[QUOTE=Billm;4084344]In my experience, cab material doesn't make much difference. I have a birch ply and a solid pine cab (same dimensions) QUOTE]

tks

[63dot]

Originally Posted by Ron Garson

I'm already doing that, but there's not as much tonal variation as I'd like there to be.

Wow, I would at least get the amp checked out then by a proper tech.

Also in the bad days of Fender amps in the 1970s and into the 1980s, sometimes they had to be reworked (sometimes with new speakers) to sound just where they should be coming right out of the factory. Even pretty inexpensive amps should have tonal variation, even if the sounds aren't ones the player likes.

[Ron Garson]

Originally Posted by jazztele

Well, what are you plugging in to it?

Tele and Strat mostly.

It may well be that what I'm hearing is what Billm describes as "shrillness" from the Jensen, rather than a real lack of bottom.
I'm going to give a C. Rex a try and see if that works out!

The amp itself should be in good shape as it was serviced last year. I had an earlier black Blues Jr that I sold last year too, and that was the best sounding of the two! Probably got rid of the wrong one!

[jazztele]

Maybe a EQ pedal, just boost the lows and low mids a bit? The bridge pup on a strat and tele can be a little shrill.

I know some folks really like to open their amps up, but I'm convinced there's usually a simpler solution...

[Axis29]

Originally Posted by Billm

Regarding the Jensen reissue, I think there are clear differences between the Jensen and the C. Rex. I use a homemade A/B/Y speaker switch, and many of my customers have been through the drill. I hear smoother, more extended bottom end in the C. Rex and brighter, more jangly highs in the Jensen.

Bill, there's no way I'd argue with you on this one. I'm still convinced some of the lack of difference was the fact that both speakers are brand spankin' new. I would like to try it again after the speakers are good and broken in!

I will say, that there is that certain note... I've described it a few times in the last couple of days as a 'kerang'... It's almost a metallic tone that hangs on the middle and back of notes, both chords and single string notes. I would describe it as an upper mid harmonic, maybe?

This note is present on the Jensens C12R, and a note I remember present in my old DRRI with the ceramic Jensen 12" speaker as well.

It was not there in the C Rex. The C Rex was almost a little drier sounding than the Jensen. More Celestion sounding? I dunno....


Again, I think the biggest problem is that speakers are not broken in and are still rather stiff.